A film in 5 minutes

15 January 2015

Camera Studies
A Film In 5 Minutes
This is an introduction to camera
studies. As part of the 'A Film in 5
Minutes' process. Led by Gavin
Brocker.

A film in 5 minutes

15 January 2015

The Camera
There are some key factors that need constant attention when
being the photographer or camera operator.

light let into the camera

size of the picture

focus and sharpness

Lenses
There are loads of dierent types of lenses for
cameras which change how much light is let into
the camera. Prime or Fixed lenses range in
angles but aren't adjustable like a zoom lens.
Other names known for the lenses are called
'Bottles'
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Mounts
Mounts are equipment that you can put a camera on and
normally allows it to have a steadier movement and allows the
camera to go if dierent places like in the air which are out of
human reach.

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15 January 2015

Sound
There are dierent types of mic ones that are built into the
camera called 'on-board' microphones that usually pick up a
lot of noise from movement of the camera. There are mics that
are 'external' which are better when recording because you
can get close to the actor and the boom doesn't pick up a lot of
rued sounds. If there is poor sound this can always be edited
in post production.
Post - Syncing is when an actor goes into a booth and has to
re create the sound to what they are saying. Example if the
scene was outside and the sound was mued then the actor
would need to say the dialogue to match the picture.
Wild- Track is any sound including dialogue, it's to re create
the ambience of where the scene was shot for example trac
or background chatter. This helps in editing to balance out the
background noise levels.
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Dubbing is where sound is added or when original dialogue is

changed. Dubbed can also be changing films from one language
to another.
Foley Artistes create noises or special eects to go along with
the picture such as someone walking on gravel.
ADR (Additional Dialogue Recording) creates sound
eects to add ambience or background dialogue to crowd
scenes.
A short hand held boom is called a fish pole and often
mounted on a tall trolley. The furry object on the mic is to stop
wind baffle.

Lighting
Light is used to:
Illuminate // highlight and shadows modelling // create
climate // create atmosphere // natural eects: Fire // decorate //
add glamour

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15 January 2015

Lights come in all dierent shapes and sizes.

2k, 5k, inky, blonde, redhead, wok and brute.

Gels can go in from of the lights to create dierent colours.

Barn doors are often attached to the lamps so that it can trim
light and control when the light is falling.
Gobo a screen cut out of shapes like a gel which goes in front
of the light to create pictures such as prison doors.
The two major lighting situations to look out for are DAY and
NIGHT.
Neutral Density Filters (ND) removes very bright light like
sunshine.
White Balance is when the camera takes in the lighting state
for the shot which is often done by putting a white sheet of
paper in front of the camera and focusing to get the whitest
point. It's so that the background and light that's emitted into
the camera is the same so the subjects stand out more and are
in focus.
Film is shot on:
16mm, super 16mm or 35mm (occasionally 72mm)
VHS, super VHS, HI8 are types of cassette that the film and be
stored in to be recorded on.
Tv screens are shot in 4 by 3, wide screen shot is 16 by 9.

Camera
Movement

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Titling
Pivots up and down
Panning
Pivots left to right
Tracking in
Moves toward subject
Tracking out
Moving away from subject
Crabbing
Right angles to subject
Elevating
Rises upwards
Depressing
Drops downwards
Zooming - manipulating the optics of the lens.
Subjects close to the camera are called close or foreground
(fg) and subjects in the back are deep or background (bg)
Bananaring when the actors moves in a curved line instead of
straight and the camera is still, example the subject walking
into shot.
There are many dierent shot sizes.
LS // long shot // from a distance
WS // wide shot //whole width and height of subject
MWS // medium wide shot // whole of the human figure
MLS // medium long shot // " " "
MS // mid shot // from the waist up
MCS // medium close shot // from the chest up
MCU // medium close up // " " "
CU // close up // chin to top of head
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BCU // big close up // one feature - eyes

Group/S // group shot // a whole team in shot, around a table

3/S // three shot // three subjects in shot Tom- dick - Harry
2/S // two shot // two subject in shot Tom - Harry
O/S 2/S // over the shoulder two shot // over sullivans shoulder
X2/S // Cross 2/S //
Single // just solo shot
A picture leaning to one side is called canted or Dutch

Crossing the line

The camera need to be on the symmetric side for a O/s 2/S

other wise if the camera if on the wrong shoulder the subjects
will look like they are looking in the same direction. As though
they were in a line and don't give the right illusion. The camera
operator would need to get the shot from both subjects
shoulders closed to the camera if we were to take a shot
looking at them like in this example.

Cast and
Crew

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PA can stand for Production Associate, Production Assistant,

Producer's Assistant or Personal Assistant.

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Audience are the people who watch you

The company the performers you work with

Executive Producer they initiates a production, acquires

the message budget, appoints a producer and brings in big
stars.

Legal Department look at the rights and legal qualities to

putting out the film
Accounts Department look at the budget for the
production

Producer time is money, look after the image side of the

production, such as cast that's popular. Responsible for the
quality of the programme,budget control. Style and taste,
health and safety and legal and public relations. They cast the
major roles and appoint directors.

Line Producer / Production Manger /Associate

Producer authorise expenditure, and deals with problems
on behalf of the producer.

Director has the overall vision of what they want to show to

look like and how the want the actors journey to unravel.

Script editor edits script.

Casting Director auditions actors for the roles of the

production

Designer
Production Co-ordinator

Production Assistant PA time scripts, types schedules,

notes Continuity slate and takes, times scenes calls shots
during production. Clears copyright, attends editing.

Continuity // Script Supervisor make sure there is a

smooth Segway from shot to shot and that nothing has
changed to words in the script and what the actors does on
each movement. Which line the actor sits on to how much
beer they drink or how much they smoke.

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First AD runs the whole show calls the shots and gets both
cast and crew ready and liaises with many departments. Calls
'that's a wrap' when finishing shooting.

2nd AD create call times for the actors and sets up meetings.
Location Manger finds location to film

Stage Manger organise rehearsals, supervise props, helps

with cueing.

Assistant Stage Manager assists the stage manger,

marking, assist with props, look after the book and prompt
actors.

Runner (3rd AD) right hand man to the first AD and run
to get actors and help run getting objects and liaise with
other departments.

Costume Designer designs the costumes and the vision of

how the actors should look

Wardrobe Supervisor they ensure the correct Continuity

for costume is maintained.

Make-Up Artists apply make up to the actors liaising

mainly with the designers to what they want. Wigs, haircuts
and special make up eects like words, tears and scars.

Hairdressers does the actors hair, can be specific to period

times.

Director of Photography (DOP) / Lighting Designer

have the vision of the bigger picture about the shot, taking
into account the three main factors to the camera, light,
focus and size. Liaises with the director.

Camera Operator operates the camera and tries to deliver

the vision that the DOP has for the shot.

Camera Assistant assists the camera operator by carrying the

equipment and assistant if hand held.
Focus Puller maintains the pictures sharpness also doubles up
as the 1st camera assistant. Manipulates the focus during a take
so that the shot is alway sharp.
Clapper Loader writes the take, slate and scene and slams
the clapper.
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Grip helps set up the equipment such as the dolly and getting
the equipment ready to start the filming process.

Sound Recordist records the sound wild tracks, eect and

carry and operate the tale machines.

Sound Assistant / Boom Operator hold the microphone

in place and listens to the sounds, they should also be
familiar with the script so that they favour the actor
speaking.

Technical Manager
Riggers rig the equipment
Gaffer responsible for the execution of the lights and
sometimes the look
Charge Hand ('Best Boy') in charge of the riggers but
assists the head of lighting
Electricians ('Sparks') the people who are on hand in case
anything goes technically wrong that needs fixing electrically.
Design Assistant
Charge Hand
Operatives ('Scenes')
Charge Hand in charge of props
Operatives ('Props')
Wrangler controls the animals

Production
Methods
Studio and Location
Feature films are made on sound stages. Exterior sites within
a film complex are called lots like the outside exterior on soaps
like Emmerdale.
Pre- Production
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The production can not take place until it is given the Green
Light. Months are spent finding locations, making schedules,
designing sets and costumes and obviously casting the
performers
Rehearsals
As actors you normally only get a read through and a couple of
rehearsals before you are filming. Multi camera productions
have rehearsals for the camera operators know the production
like Mrs Browns Boys. One week of rehearsals usually add up
to half an hour of programme length. Directors will block
scenes on set with the actors.
Multi- Camera Shooting
The director plan the blocking with the actors in rehearsal and
write a camera script which is usually very detailed. Edited
shots in real time are called vision mixing, this enables music
and sound eects to be played at the same time.

Pros
The actors get an uninterrupted
performance.
More economical with little costs.

Cons
Unavailability of good camera angles.

Single - Camera Shooting

As cameras got lighter this gave more opportunity for enabling
TV to film on location like films, The Bill is a good example.
These can be filmed in a set called 'four wallers' instead of
three pretend walls in a studio.
Shots, Takes and Slates
Shot is a section of the script with a particular view. Each shot
that is a success is called a take.

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Slate numbers start at 1 and continuing upwards until the

end of the production, slate indicates the separate shot,
involving the change of size, action, text and photography.
Take
Director indicates they have finished rehearsal
First AD announces 'stand by, we're going from a take'
makes sure everyone is ready
First AD calls 'turning over'
Camera operator calls 'camera rolling' or 'speed'
Clapper calls 'mark it'
Sound recordist will call 'sound running'
First AD when satisfied called 'action'
Directors calls 'cut'
In studios there is a red light and bell that is routine to show
at the beginning and end of a take.

Editing
Cutting used 99% of the time
Mixing (dissolving) indicates flashbacks and emphasis slow
gentle moodiness.
Fade to black / fade up long time lapse and separation of
ideas
DVE (Digital Video Effect) used in pop music, advertising
and sport

Working
Actor
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A film in 5 minutes

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Actors Should's:

Read call sheets carefully

Be fit
Be punctual
Be cheerful
Be co-operative
Know your lines

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